Articles

Cervantes, chief nursing officer at Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital, got her first nursing job during National Nurses Week in 1986. She had just graduated from the Fresno State nursing program and came to work as an extern in a medical/surgical unit with cancer patients at the downtown hospital, known then as Fresno Community Hospital.

Donna Farmer never thought she’d be that “one” of eight. According to the American Cancer Society, that statistic represents how many women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. The diagnosis was devastating and treatments can last for months.

Bob Putnam left Oahu, Hawaii for a job at Clovis Community Medical Center in 2002 as a registered nurse and house supervisor. Seven years later, he’s established a reputation for being one of the most dependable employees at the hospital.

And now, he’s also been selected as one of the Ultimate People of 2009.

As a young man Jeff DiMarco longed for a career with day to day changes and the ability to help others. Every day, he saw his life as a gift and wanted to share it with the people around him. DiMarco decided nursing would be the perfect fit.

He has dedicated his time to finding, creating and providing community resources for Community Medical Centers’ patients and families, while being a self-motivated worker. And for his commitment to Community, DiMarco was selected as one of the Ultimate People of 2009.

Steve Walter, chief financial officer of Community Medical Centers, the largest non-profit health care network in central California, sat down with Michelle Van Valkenburg for a candid interview. Van Valkenburg, director of communications for Community, asked Walter some questions for Valley residents concerned about health care in this current economic recession.